At the first team's match at Bedwell Rangers on Tuesday night, Chairman Philip Mills informed club officials and players that following discussions with the Hertfordshire F.A., Baldock Town FC have accepted an invitation from them to play first team matches at the County Ground from next season (2008/09 season).

Phil commented “This is an important move forward for Baldock Town FC and helps the club put a firm step on the football ladder. There is still a lot of work to do to sort out all the details of the agreement and we shall be working hard on this over the coming weeks.

As soon more details are available further information will be publicised. In the meantime we would like to thank the Hertfordshire F.A. and the local Baldock Councillors, who have worked with us to make this possible.  Publicity and support from The Comet and BBC Three Counties Radio is also much appreciated.”

Source - East London & West Essex Guardian

Debden boss Graham Smith admitted his side are letting in too many goals after they let the lead slip twice in a 3-3 draw with runaway Herts Premier League leaders Baldock Town.

Debden went in 1-0 down at half time, Baldock's Cameron Brawley grabbing the goal, but put in a much more positive showing after the break.

Talisman Steve Ochiltree equalised early on with a drilled shot from Jo Hall's near post cross, and Robert Shaw made it 2-1 five minutes later when he reacted quickest to the rebound from an Ochiltree shot.

Danny Bennett equalised for Baldock, but Ochiltree restored Debden's lead when he headed in Nick Parks' cross.

With 15 minutes to play Baldock's Danny Bennett brought the game level for the third time.  Smith said: "We're scoring plenty of goals but the problem is we are also leaking too many.

"That's the difference between us being in midtable and a side that can really challenge in this league.

"It would just be good to keep a clean sheet and build some confidence."

But he added: "I'm happy with the result and I think a draw was fair because it could have gone either way in the end."

Debden travel to league strugglers Cuffley on Saturday.

Source - knebworthfc.intheteam.com.

"A very young Knebworth Reserves were beaten by Senior Division One newboys Baldock Town.  Joe Lucy and Jason Drackford netted for the K's.

This was on Long Melford's website after our 3-2 friendly defeat.  Source - www.stoneylands.com:

"The First Team recorded their first pre-season victory earlier today, beating Baldock Town 3-2 at Stoneylands in convincing fashion.

The match kicked off at 3.15pm because of Baldock's late arrival, and although the early exchanges were pretty even, it wasn't long before Melford were on top and deserved their 1-0 lead after 15 minutes.

 

A lovely passing move involving several players resulted in a great ball from Liam Bevis, and David Kenyon was bundled over in the box  as he tried to get to Bevis' ball. It was a clear penalty, and Tony French finished from the spot with his trademark accuracy.

 

Almost immediately after this, Baldock broke forward and forced keeper Craig Rulton into a smart stop. This served as a timely reminder that Baldock would not roll over without a fight. The visitors looked a competent side all afternoon, although admittedly not of the same calibre as our previous pre-season opponents.

 

 

Around the 35 minute mark Melford extended their lead. The dangerous Ashley Skeggs (pictured above) latched on to an excellent ball from David Kenyon and finished clinically past the Baldock keeper.

 

However, it wasn't long before Baldock hit back - Melford captain Steve Arnold conceded a penalty to blemish an otherwise outstanding display at centre-back, and the spot kick was dispatched confidently.There was still time before the break for Paul Walker to rattle the bar with a fierce header from a fine Danny Brind cross from the right.

 

Baldock started the second half in a lively manner, clipping Craig Rulton's crossbar with a cross/shot, but it was Melford who stepped up a gear in the following 20 minutes and took the game to the visitors.

 

On 65 minutes, Matt Wilson played a perfect pass to David Kenyon, who controlled the ball neatly and finished nicely to notch his first goal in a Melford shirt. There were chances for Melford to extend their two-goal lead, the best of which perhaps fell to Ashley Skeggs, who after a stong run found himself through on goal but finished tamely.

 

Melford didn't finish the match particularly well, and allowed the visitors to get back into the game when really they shouldn't have been in a position to do so. A late Baldock goal (a scrappy goal finally bundled home after some sloppy defending) gave the match a 3-2 scoreline when on the balance of play Melford were probably worth a two-goal victory. Full credit to Baldock though, they worked hard and kept going to the last whistle and gave Melford a thorough workout.

 

This was a well-deserved victory for Melford and there were a number of positives - all of the 13 players used put in strong performances, and the new signings are getting better and better with each match they play. After Tuesday night's defeat this was a timely victory, it's obviously nice to secure a win but more important than the result was the performance. Some of the one-touch football Melford played was a joy to watch, and apart from a slightly lacklustre finish to the match it was a confident, hard-working and accomplished display.

 

Team : Craig Rulton, Errol Durell, Tony French, Andy Gooderham, Steve Arnold, Danny Brind, Paul Walker, Liam Bevis, Matt Wilson, Ashley Skeggs, David Kenyon

 

Substitutes:  Steve Chisholm, Steve Adams

 

Goalscorers: Tony French, Ashley Skeggs, David Kenyon"

 

Thank you to Paul Grainger and Long Melford for organising the friendly.

Below is the match report taken from the Hertford Town website after our recent 5-0 friendly defeat:

"Hertford entertained Herts County League newcomers Baldock Town on a day of sharp contrasts in the weather, with sunny periods between torrential downpours. The game escaped the worst of the rain though, and was an entertaining encounter.

Hertford Town line-up: 1. Mark Virgo, 2. Nicky Burt, 3. Pablo Ardiles, 4. Kevin Kilroy (Capt), 5. Glenn Draper, 6. Paul Taylor, 7. Ryan Wade, 8. Michael Cooper, 9. Ryan Redford, 10. Kevin Cooper, 11. Lee Roberts.

Second half subs: 12. Joel Maybury (for Kilroy), 14. Panayiotis Panayiotou (for Wade), 15. Ross Collins (for Taylor), 16. Mark Draper (for K. Cooper), 17. Nicky Marsh (for Burt).

Hertford attacked the young Baldock outfit from the off, and Lee Roberts had the freedom of the left side of the field as he scampered down the wing and crossed to Ryan Redford, whose shot was deflected for a 3rd minute corner. The same pair won another corner minutes later but the first real shot of the game went to the Baldock No. 8, who saw his strike go just wide of the upright. Baldock won a couple of corners in quick succession before Hertford got back on the attacking trail. Lee Roberts was looking very lively down the left, and another fine cross from him was headed just over the bar by Michael Cooper, in for the unavailable Phil Goss. On 15 minutes, Hertford took the lead when fine work by Ryan Redford and Lee Roberts saw the latter's cross sidefooted home by KEVIN COOPER from 12 yards.
It was 2-0 on 18 minutes, as RYAN REDFORD scored with a brilliant display of footwork, as he left a defender and the 'keeper on the floor before walking the ball into an empty net.
It began to look like there was going to be a cricket score, as it became 3-0 on 21 minutes. Redford was tripped in the box, and although the agile Baldock 'keeper pushed Coops' spot kick up on to the crossbar, the striker was able to place the ball into the net at the second opportunity.

On 24 minutes, Mark Virgo had to make a save from the visitors' No. 9 but most of the action was in the Baldock half, with Redford, and Roberts going close. The unlucky Michael Cooper looked to have scored, but the brave Baldock 'keeper made a fine point blank save at his feet. As half time beckoned, skipper Kevin Kilroy crossed back into the box from a Lee Roberts corner, and Ryan Wade headed narrowly wide of the upright.

Half Time: Hertford Town 3 Baldock Town 0

Hertford made five changes at half time but the two men whose pace had so troubled the visitors, Lee Roberts and Ryan Redford, were still on the field, and both threatened to increase The Blues' advantage in the early stages of the second period. It was RYAN REDFORD who made it 4-0 on 63 minutes, when he dribbled around the stranded Baldock 'keeper before lobbing the ball over the only defender between him and the goal. An exhausted Redford left the field after 70 minutes and Kevin Cooper returned. Baldock Town had gamely continued to look for a consolation goal, and in the closing 15 minutes looked like they might manage it. It was cruel on them, therefore, that it was the home side who scored the final goal of the game, when KEVIN COOPER played a one-two with Pablo Ardiles before slotting home from close range to make the final score 5-0."

Thank you to Hertford Town for their hospitality on the day and Bob Brown for helping organise the friendly.